Tips sought in double fatality hit and run

Published: Monday, November 4, 2013 at 12:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 1, 2013 at 2:38 p.m.

Troopers with the N.C. Highway Patrol are not giving up in their quest to find who's responsible for two hit-and-run fatalities from late 2011.

Facts

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Anyone with information on the hit-and-run deaths of Ashley Monique Johnson and Dewight Lamont Scales on Dec. 20, 2011, on U.S. Highway 52 are asked to contact the N.C. Highway Patrol at 249-0247 or Lexington Area Crimestoppers at 243-2400.

SHP First Sgt. B.D. Stalvey said this past week that tips are still being sought in the deaths of 26-year-old Ashley Monique Johnson and 25-year-old Dewight Lamont Scales, both of Winston-Salem. The cousins died in the Dec. 20, 2011, hit-and-run accident on U.S. Highway 52 South just north of Exit 92 for N.C. Highway 8.

They were killed during an accident reported at 2:11 a.m. by a second motorist who ran over their bodies. Johnson and Scales were struck by a vehicle and run over by a passenger vehicle and a tractor-trailer after what the investigating trooper initially reported as an apparent domestic dispute.

The cousins were traveling north on U.S. 52 when their minivan stopped in the road in the outside lane. They exited the minivan and crossed the median and cable guardrail into the southbound lanes of U.S. 52.

An unknown southbound vehicle struck the pair after Johnson and Scales exited, but the driver failed to stop. The other vehicles ran over the bodies lying on the road after the initial collision. Those two motorists did stop.

Troopers announced they were looking for a 1995 or 1996 Toyota Corolla or Camry shortly after the double-fatality hit and run. They indicated the driver's side should have damage to its headlight.

Stalvey said the Highway Patrol's Reconstruction Unit conducted an investigation into the matter. All leads were investigated, and family members of the cousins were interviewed.

"Nothing turned up with evidence or leads as to the first vehicle that caused the initial impact with the two pedestrians," the first sergeant said. "We are back to square one, basically."

All leads, Stalvey said, have been exhausted.

Mothers Erica Johnson and Beverly Scales insisted to the The Dispatch this past year that foul play resulted in the deaths of their children. Johnson claimed her daughter had $23,000 in her purse, cash that was intended to establish Ashley Johnson's own business in Lexington. She believed an armed robbery was connected to the tragedy on U.S. 52.

Stalvey said the allegations made by the mothers were reviewed not only by the SHP but by investigators from the Davidson County District Attorney's Office. "Nothing conclusive," he said as he referred to the results of investigating the allegations made by the mothers.

The first sergeant has a message for whomever is responsible for the cousins' deaths.

"Just do the right thing," he said. "Turn yourself in. Eventually and at first you are going to answer to the criminal justice system, but eventually you are going to answer to your maker."

Stalvey encourages anyone with information to contact the SHP at 249-0247 or Lexington Area Crimestoppers at 243-2400.

Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com. Follow Darrick on Twitter: @DispatchDarrick.

<p>Troopers with the N.C. Highway Patrol are not giving up in their quest to find who's responsible for two hit-and-run fatalities from late 2011.</p><p>SHP First Sgt. B.D. Stalvey said this past week that tips are still being sought in the deaths of 26-year-old Ashley Monique Johnson and 25-year-old Dewight Lamont Scales, both of Winston-Salem. The cousins died in the Dec. 20, 2011, hit-and-run accident on U.S. Highway 52 South just north of Exit 92 for N.C. Highway 8.</p><p>They were killed during an accident reported at 2:11 a.m. by a second motorist who ran over their bodies. Johnson and Scales were struck by a vehicle and run over by a passenger vehicle and a tractor-trailer after what the investigating trooper initially reported as an apparent domestic dispute.</p><p>The cousins were traveling north on U.S. 52 when their minivan stopped in the road in the outside lane. They exited the minivan and crossed the median and cable guardrail into the southbound lanes of U.S. 52.</p><p>An unknown southbound vehicle struck the pair after Johnson and Scales exited, but the driver failed to stop. The other vehicles ran over the bodies lying on the road after the initial collision. Those two motorists did stop.</p><p>Troopers announced they were looking for a 1995 or 1996 Toyota Corolla or Camry shortly after the double-fatality hit and run. They indicated the driver's side should have damage to its headlight.</p><p>Stalvey said the Highway Patrol's Reconstruction Unit conducted an investigation into the matter. All leads were investigated, and family members of the cousins were interviewed. </p><p>"Nothing turned up with evidence or leads as to the first vehicle that caused the initial impact with the two pedestrians," the first sergeant said. "We are back to square one, basically."</p><p>All leads, Stalvey said, have been exhausted. </p><p>Mothers Erica Johnson and Beverly Scales insisted to the The Dispatch this past year that foul play resulted in the deaths of their children. Johnson claimed her daughter had $23,000 in her purse, cash that was intended to establish Ashley Johnson's own business in Lexington. She believed an armed robbery was connected to the tragedy on U.S. 52.</p><p>Stalvey said the allegations made by the mothers were reviewed not only by the SHP but by investigators from the Davidson County District Attorney's Office. "Nothing conclusive," he said as he referred to the results of investigating the allegations made by the mothers. </p><p>The first sergeant has a message for whomever is responsible for the cousins' deaths.</p><p>"Just do the right thing," he said. "Turn yourself in. Eventually and at first you are going to answer to the criminal justice system, but eventually you are going to answer to your maker."</p><p>Stalvey encourages anyone with information to contact the SHP at 249-0247 or Lexington Area Crimestoppers at 243-2400.</p><p>Darrick Ignasiak can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 217, or darrick.ignasiak@the-dispatch.com. Follow Darrick on Twitter: @DispatchDarrick.</p>